FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      CONTACT:
NFL-85                   10/14/03                                                      BRENDAN MOYNIHAN, NFL, 212-450-2246
                                                                                                Moynihanb@nfl.com

DAVE DECECCO, PEPSI-COLA, 914-253-2655
            David.DeCecco@Pepsi.com

PACKERS LB NICK BARNETT; CARDINALS WR ANQUAN BOLDIN;

TEXANS RB DOMANICK DAVIS; PANTHERS OT JORDAN GROSS

& SEAHAWKS S KEN HAMLIN

CANDIDATES FOR PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF WEEK HONORS

Fans To Vote For Winner On NFL.com

Linebacker NICK BARNETT of the Green Bay Packers, wide receiver ANQUAN BOLDIN of the Arizona Cardinals, running back DOMANICK DAVIS of the Houston Texans, offensive tackle JORDAN GROSS of the Carolina Panthers, and safety KEN HAMLIN of the Seattle Seahawks are the finalists for PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK honors for games played on October 12-13, the NFL announced today. 

Fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com from Tuesday morning until 9:00 AM ET Thursday to determine the PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK.  The PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK will be announced Thursday on NFL.com.

After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors.  Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com throughout the month of January.  The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston.

A closer look at the finalists:

  • Green Bay’s Nick Barnett recorded 11 tackles in the Packers’ 40-34 overtime loss to Kansas City.  Barnett leads the NFC with 55 tackles and has recorded 2.0 sacks and two interceptions this season.
     
  • Arizona’s Anquan Boldin caught six passes for 95 yards in the Cardinals’ 26-18 loss to Baltimore.  Boldin leads the league with 592 yards receiving on 39 receptions. 
     
  • Houston’s Domanick Davis rushed for 59 yards on seven carries and caught seven passes for 70 yards in the Texans’ 38-17 loss to Tennessee.   
     
  • Carolina’ Jordan Gross helped the Panthers gain 189 yards rushing and a 4.6-yard average per carry in Carolina’s 23-20 overtime win over Indianapolis.  Gross has started all five games for undefeated Carolina, which has gained 860 yards rushing, and has had a 100-yard rusher in four of five games this season.
     
  • Seattle’s Ken Hamlin recorded seven tackles and the game-sealing fumble recovery in the Seahawks’ 20-
    19 win over San Francisco.

This is Pepsi’s second year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL.